Ellen Page Awesomely Talks LGBT Rights With Stephen Colbert

Ellen Pagehas been out of the closet for a year and a half now, and earlier this month she walked the red carpet with her girlfriend Samantha Thomasfor the first time at the premiere of her new movie Freeheld. In the film, based on a true story, she and Julianne Moore play a lesbian couple fighting for equal rights in the face of a devastating cancer diagnosis. Last night Ellen stopped by The Late Show to talk to Stephen Colbert about the film and about the progress of LGBT rights. It was an awesome interview, something Colbert is doing a great job delivering these days.

Colbert brings up the recent legalization of same-sex marriage across the entire United States, asking Ellen what she thinks “accelerated this acceptance.” Here's what Ellen had to say:

“I think for the most part, LGBT people started to become more visible. And I think what happens is intolerance has always correlated with less people being out of the closet. And the more people started living their lives, the more we've had films about it, on television, incredible activists like Laurel and Stacie [in Freeheld]. It really changes people's minds, touches people's hearts, and makes it shift from seeing something as other or different, and of course realizes we're all the same, and all we're asking for is equality, and to grow up in a society that doesn't make us feel less-than, that doesn't make us feel shame, and doesn't make us have to deal with the repercussions of that, which are really destructive.”

They drive the point home by playing a really sweet clip of Ellen and Julianne's characters in their movie, and Colbert comments, “It's almost as if lesbian couples are like all other couples.” Amazing, right?

Colbert also brings up the issue of people who their believe religious rights are being infringed upon by having to provide equal services or benefits to gay couples. (Cough, Kim Davis, cough.) Ellen gives a great response:

“What I would say to that is, religious liberty and religious freedom is so, so important. It's so, so crucial. And what's unfortunate is, throughout history, religious liberty has been used to justify discrimination based on gender, and based on race, and now it's the LGBT community.”

She adds that she believes lack of exposure to and interaction with different types of people is often at the core of people's resistance to change their beliefs.

Ellen will be receiving the Human Rights Campaign's National Vanguard Award this weekend, and she explains the change she's felt since coming out, expressing gratitude that she's able to use her platform to communicate with people about these important issues. You go, Ellen!